African swine fever moves westwards in Europe

What can pet pig keepers, smallholders, and commercial pig producers do to prevent disease reaching our pigs in the UK?

African swine fever (ASF) is an extremely serious disease of pigs. It’s a viral disease that often causes pigs to die. The virus first entered European Union Member States in 2014 from countries further east in Europe. ASF has been spreading since then in wild boar in eastern and central Europe with outbreaks also occurring in domestic pigs, especially in pigs in small herds. Many pigs have died from this disease, and many thousands more have been culled to try and control its spread. There is no effective vaccine available for control. Fortunately, this virus does not infect humans and there is no risk to public health.

In September 2018, ASF was detected in Belgium for the first time in wild boar found dead in the Luxembourg region, near the border with France. This is a very significant development in the westward spread of ASF in European Union Member States. It illustrates how this disease can move large geographic distances, most likely by people moving infected meat or meat products or objects, materials or equipment contaminated with the virus from ASF-infected areas.

Since then further cases of ASF have been found in wild boar in this area of Belgium. As a consequence, Belgian pig farmers have lost much of their international market and all the pigs kept in the infected zone have been culled.

Further afield, ASF has been spreading in China since it was first reported in early August 2018. Updates on this disease in different regions can be found on the gov.uk website.

It is vital pig keepers in the UK take action now to reduce the risk of this deadly disease entering their pigs, and to play their role in safeguarding the health of the national pig population. The messages below are important, regardless of whether pigs are kept as pets, in small-scale herds, or on commercial farms.

What you can do to keep pigs free of this virus infection

The biggest risk of ASF entering the UK’s pig population is from pigs eating infected pork or pork products derived from infected pigs or wild boar. The ASF virus can survive for months to years in smoked, dried, cured and frozen meat. Meat products brought into the UK from affected countries as personal imports pose the biggest risk. Commercial trade of such products is not permitted from the ASF-restricted areas.

ASF virus survives at high levels in the blood and carcasses of infected pigs or wild boar and is also in their droppings and manure. The virus can therefore also be spread on vehicles, equipment, clothing and boots contaminated from infected pigs or wild boar. As a result, people whose homes are in ASF-affected areas in Europe, and those returning to the UK from holidays or hunting expeditions could unknowingly bring back infection. If these people also happen to keep pigs, or work on pig farms, they could pass that contamination on to the pigs and introduce disease, but there are some straightforward actions that will stop this happening.

The feeding of domestic or catering waste to pigs is illegal in the UK

Fruit and vegetables can be fed but must not have entered a kitchen or contacted other food.

2. Practice good biosecurity

Use dedicated protective outer clothing and boots for people coming into contact with your pigs, these should not be used off your premises.

Limit visitors to pigs to a minimum and avoid visits from people just returned from abroad.

Prevent vehicles or equipment from coming on to premises with pigs unless cleaned and disinfected first.

If you have a footpath/bridleway on your land or beside it and near your pigs, display “Do not feed the pigs” signs. These are available to download on the AHDB Pork website. Pig keepers in Scotland can download warning posters and get further biosecurity information from the Pig Disease Control Centre.

What to do if you suspect your pigs have ASF

If a pig is unwell, contact your veterinary surgeon straight away – it is important to register with a veterinary surgeon before any disease problems occur in your pigs. They can advise you on prevention of other diseases too. If you or your vet suspect your pigs have ASF, report this to the Animal and Plant Health Agency immediately as indicated below:

Emily Houghton is a Zoology graduate from Cardiff University. Emily has worked in livestock husbandry, and has written, conducted and assisted with research projects regarding the synthesis of welfare and productivity of free-range food species.